BYLAWS FOR THE INFORMS HEALTH APPLICATIONS SECTION

Section A section of the Institute for Operations Research
and the Management Sciences

ARTICLE I:  NAME

The name of the organization shall be INFORMS Health Applications Section 
of the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS).
Herein it will be referred to as "Tthe Section."

ARTICLE II:  PURPOSE

The major purposes for the the Section are:

a. To provide a continuing focus within INFORMS on the topic of health 
	applications, with the aim of identifying current and potential 
	problems and contributions to their solutions.

b. To lead in the development, dissemination and implementation of knowledge 
	and of basic and applied research technologies on health applications.

c. To support efforts to extend, unify and integrate related branches of 
	knowledge and practice.

d. To support the interchange of information and encourage discussion and 
	interaction among individuals having interest in the field of health 
	applications, by providing the opportunity for these individuals to 
	meet to exchange information, ideas, experiences and techniques.

e. To stimulate the type of cross-fertilization which can best be 
	accomplished within the framework of a professional organization.

f. To promote high professional standards and integrity in all work done 
	in the field.

g. To encourage the education of students and the continuing education of 
	practitioners in this field of knowledge.

h. To work with accreditation institutions to promote and improve teaching 
	of health care application courses in management sciences and 
	operations research by faculty trained in the discipline.

I. To periodically review quality management, education and health care 
	software.

The Section is organized and will be operated exclusively for scientific and 
educational purposes within the meaning of Section 501 (c) (3) of the 
Internal Revenue code of 1986 as amended.

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP

1. Any person interested in health applications may become a member of this 
	Section by completing a membership application and submitting it 
	with the proper dues.  Individuals can be members of The the Section 
	without formally being members of INFORMS.

2. All members shall have equal rights and privileges.  Dues shall be payable 
	in the Fall of each year.

3. Membership and participation shall be free from discrimination based on 
	race, religion, ethnic group, national origin, handicap, sex, or 
	sexual orientation.

4. Membership can be terminated according to INFORMS by-law on unethical 
	activities.

ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS

1. The officers of the organization and their duties shall be the following:

Chair: Shall be the chief administrative officer of the Section and shall 
	be responsible for the general supervision, direction and control 
	of the business affairs of the Section.  The Chair shall preside at 
	meetings and represent the Section in external affairs.  The Chair 
	shall approve any expenditures of the Section's funds.  In addition, 
	the Chair shall be responsible for maintaining communication with 
	the Section's representative on the INFORMS Board and for participating 
	in the Nominating Assembly for the representative to the INFORMS Board.
	The Chair (or his/her designate) shall coordinate any competitions or 
	awards that the Section sponsors.  The Chair is responsible for 
	providing a copy of these bylaws to the next Chair.

Chair Elect:  Shall in the absence, or disability, of the Chair perform the 
	duties and exercise the powers of the chair.  The Chair Elect shall 
	recommend and organize invited speakers for Sessions in National or 
	International meetings of the Section.  The Chair Elect shall replace 
	the Chair at the completion of the term of the Chair.

Editor and Secretary:  Shall take the minutes of the meetings and shall be 
	responsible for such matters as correspondence and notification of 
	meetings.  The Editor/Secretary shall maintain contact with INFORMS 
	liaison and shall file an annual report describing the Section's 
	activities.  The Editor/Secretary shall designate or directly prepare 
	the newsletter and/or electronic discussion groups. The Editor/Secretary
	or his/her designee shall supervise the development of a journal, if 
	the Section decides to pursue such a goal.  As part of this activity, 
	the Editor/Secretary shall negotiate with publishers, if appropriate 
	plan for a new Journal, organize biannual special issue publications, 
	or any other appropriate step for increasing publishing activities of 
	the Section.

Treasurer:  Shall be responsible for all financial matters, including all 
	financial records and an annual financial statement to be included 
	with the annual report.  The Treasurer shall keep accounts, deposit 
	the organization's funds, and make expenditures in a fiscally 
	responsible manner.

Board Members:  Shall amend or change the bylaws, approve major changes of 
	direction, endorsements, and new activities of the Section.  There 
	may be up to 9 Board Members.  The Chair, Chair elect, Editor, 
	Treasurer, and past chair are ex-officio Board Members.

2. Terms of Office.  The terms of the chair, vice chair, Editor and Secretary,
	and Treasurer shall be one year. Other Board Members shall serve 
	consecutive two-year terms. Each officer will be elected by ballot 
	in the Fall of each year.  The elected officer must receive a 
	majority of the votes cast by members present in the Section's Business 
	Meeting.  Their terms of office shall begin on the first day of January 
	of each year.  Officers may be nominated for re-election.

3. Nominations.  The nominating committee, appointed by the Chair, shall 
	nominate at least one candidate for each office.  Additional 
	nominations can be made by members present in the Section's 
	Business Meeting.  All nominees must be members of the Section at 
	time of their assuming office.  It is desirable for the nominees also 
	to be members of INFORMS.

4. Voting.  

a. All elected officers and Board members shall be elected in accordance with 
	a process operating concurrently with that of the INFORMS election process. 
b. The Chair shall appoint a Nominating Committee Chair at the annual business
	meeting. The Nominating Committee, composed of a chair and at least two 
	additional Section members, will issue a call for nominees and thereafter 
	shall prepare an election slate for each office to be filled.   At least 
	one month before the annual Business Meeting of the Section, the 
	Nominating Committee will submit its nominations to the Chair who will 
	report these nominations to the Section membership by one or more 
	of the following media: a) electronic mail, b) hardcopy newsletter, or c) 
	other appropriate form. Additional nominations for any office may be made 
	by a petition signed by at least six Section members. Such petitions must 
	reach the Chair at least 1 month before the annual meeting of the Section. 
c. Within a month before the annual Business Meeting of the Section, the 
	Chair shall forward official ballots to the Section membership. 
	Ballots shall be issued by one of the following media:  a) letter mail 
	ballot; b) electronic mail ballot; c) web-based ballot d) a combination 
	of letter mail and electronic mail or web-based ballot, e) or other 
	appropriate media.  Nominees for office shall be listed alphabetically 
	on the ballot (and so noted) with no indication as to those nominated by 
	the Nominating Committee and those nominated by petition. 
d. The Chair shall appoint tellers to receive and tally ballots.  Tellers may 
	not be Section officers or candidates for office. The winning 
	candidate for each position shall be the candidate receiving the largest 
	number of votes. In the event of a tie vote for any position, the members 
	present at the next Business Meeting of the Section shall choose between 
	the tied candidates by written ballot. Winning candidates will
	be announced at the annual business meeting and shall attend the Board
	meeting as observers and shall assume their office following this meeting. 

5. Board.  The Section's Board will consist of Board Members described above.

ARTICLE V - MEETINGS

The section will hold at least one meeting per year.  The time, place, and 
agenda of each meeting shall be set by Officers and announced by the 
Editor/Secretary in the newsletter.

ARTICLE VI - RESPONSIBILITIES TO INFORMS

The Section and its officers, under charter from INFORMS, are accountable to 
the Institute for all operations and procedures.  The INFORMS Board may 
suspend or revoke the Charter of the Section for inappropriate operations or 
procedures.  Each Year, at a time specified by the Vice President for 
Subdivisions, the Section will submit a report to said Vice President 
summarizing the significant accomplishments and activities during the 
previous year.

ARTICLE VII - DUES

Dues to defray annual operating expenses may be assessed on all members by 
the Board of the Section.  The Board may set different rates for members of 
INFORMS who join the Section and non-members of INFORMS who join the Section.

ARTICLE VIII - AMENDMENTS

Amendments to the bylaws may be made in any meeting following announcement in 
a previous meeting.  The Editor/Secretary must submit the amendment to all 
members at least 7 days prior to the vote.  Amendment must be approved 
by 2/3 of members present.  Following approval it must be sent to INFORMS 
Vice President for Subdivisions who will present the Amendment to the 
INFORMS board.  The Amendment becomes effective when approved by the 
INFORMS Board.

ARTICLE IX - RULES OF ORDER

Robert's rules of order shall govern meetings, in all cases to which they 
are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the Bylaws.

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